Fighting For Her- Imane Khelif

The Break

Ellie sat on the edge of the bed, her mind swirling with the storm of emotions she had uncovered from Gianna's phone. When Gianna emerged from the shower, Ellie couldn't hold back any longer.

"Gianna," Ellie's voice trembled, "Who is Hannah?"

Gianna froze for a moment before her eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?" she asked defensively, though her tone hinted at guilt.

Ellie stood, anger rising. "I saw the messages on your phone. You've been seeing someone else this whole time, haven't you?"

Gianna sighed, tossing the towel onto a chair. "Fine. Yeah, I've been seeing her. But don't act like you're innocent in all this," Gianna shot back, her voice growing harsh. "You've been thinking about Imane this whole time. You're not fully here with me either."

Ellie blinked, stunned. "What? That's not true... Maybe I did think about her at the beginning, but I was starting to like you! I was trying to move on, trying to let go of whatever feelings I had for Imane. But now you've ruined everything."

Gianna crossed her arms, her expression cold. "Maybe it's better this way. You've never really been over her, and I'm not going to pretend to be something I'm not. I'm not interested in being faithful. That's just how I am."

Ellie's heart sank. Tears filled her eyes as she realized the depth of the betrayal. "You didn't even care," she whispered, shaking her head. "I thought... I thought we were starting something real."

Gianna shrugged, indifferent. "You knew who I was. You chose this."

Ellie couldn't take it anymore. The hurt, the anger, the betrayal—it was too much. She turned on her heel and began packing her belongings, throwing clothes into her suitcase with shaky hands. Gianna didn't stop her, didn't try to explain or apologize. The silence between them was icy, thick with unresolved tension.

With her suitcase packed, Ellie paused at the door. She looked back at Gianna, her heart heavy. "Goodbye, Gianna," she whispered before walking out.

As she stepped out of the apartment and into the hallway, Ellie felt an overwhelming sense of loss. She didn't know where to go, where she belonged anymore. She walked down the stairs of the building, dragging her suitcase behind her, and found herself standing in front of Imane's apartment door. The sight of it made her heart clench. Tears blurred her vision as she stared at the door, knowing Imane would be back tomorrow. But Ellie couldn't forgive herself, couldn't bear the thought of facing her after everything that had happened.

The guilt and regret overwhelmed her. She felt so lost, so broken. Unable to think clearly, she made a decision. She would go back to New York. That was the only place left for her.

It was late, but Ellie hailed a taxi and headed to the airport. The ride felt like an eternity, her mind racing with thoughts of what she had lost. When she arrived at the airport, she rushed to the ticket counter, hoping to catch a flight back home. But her heart sank when the clerk told her there were no more flights tonight. She'd have to wait until the morning.

Panic gripped her chest. The thought of waiting, of being stuck here with her emotions spiraling, was unbearable. She left the airport, deciding to walk to a nearby hotel for the night. The streets were quiet, too quiet, and the weight of loneliness settled heavily on her shoulders.

As she walked, the sound of footsteps behind her made her uneasy. Glancing over her shoulder, she noticed a large man following her. Her heart raced as fear set in. She quickened her pace, hoping to lose him, but the man's footsteps sped up as well. He was closing in on her.

Panic surged through her veins, and Ellie started to run, her suitcase bouncing behind her. The man's heavy footsteps thundered in her ears as he chased her. She could feel him getting closer, his presence suffocating.

Just as she felt the man reaching for her, a blur of movement shot past her. Suddenly, the man was yanked backward, and a loud thud echoed through the street as a fist collided with his face. Ellie stopped, breathless, her heart pounding as she turned to see what had happened.

There, standing between her and the man, was Imane. Her strong, muscular frame was tense with anger as she stood over the man, who was now sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain.

"Are you okay?" Imane asked, her voice firm but full of concern.

Ellie was too stunned to speak at first. Tears welled in her eyes, and she nodded, overcome with relief and emotion. She had no idea how Imane had appeared, but at that moment, she had never been so grateful to see her.

Imane looked down at the man, who was struggling to get up, and gave him a hard, warning look. "Don't even think about it," she growled.

The man scrambled to his feet and stumbled away, disappearing into the shadows. Ellie watched him go, her heart still racing.

Imane turned to her, her expression softening. "Ellie... what are you doing here?"